Thursday, January 19, 2017

Obit of Luella (Perkins) Mounce

BLOOMINGTON — Luella Mae Perkins Mounce, 88, of Bloomington, peacefully passed away at 4:44 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 15, 2017) at McLean County Nursing Home, Normal. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home, Bloomington, with Pastor Peter Weeks officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the memorial home. Interment will be at Pennell Cemetery, Towanda. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org.

Luella was born July 3, 1928, in Chatsworth, a daughter of Russell and Annis Harlan Perkins. She married Walter E. Mounce on July 12, 1947, in Bloomington. He preceded in death July 21, 2016. Surviving are her son, Michael A. (Pam) Mounce, Normal; daughter, Susan E. Stewart, Champaign; brothers, Charles (Marlene) Perkins, Chenoa, and Donald (Pat) Perkins, Fairbury; sister, Marlene (Leon) Thompson, Manteca, Calif.; granddaughter, LeAnn Jennings, Bloomington; grandson, Bryan (Sara) Mounce, Bloomington; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Kenneth Perkins.

Luella grew up on a farm in Chatsworth during the Depression. She learned the lessons of sacrifice that followed her through life. She always put her family before herself. She graduated from Chatsworth High School in 1946. She loved being a Chatsworth Bluebird and frequently sang the school song for her children. Luella was a loving wife. When she saw Walter for the first time, she fell in love and vowed to marry him. They had many great times as they traveled across the country after their retirement. Florida was their favorite vacation spot. There was laughter and love continuously through the years. They would have celebrated their 70th anniversary this year. She was a loving and dedicated mother. From going to every baseball game to attending many band concerts, she was always there. She made things better for her children and wouldn’t have had it any other way. Luella was proud of and renowned for her cooking. Her family enjoyed the best fried chicken, and she was the only one in the family who could make gravy. Her potato salad was always in demand, as well as her pies and cakes made from scratch. Thanksgiving and Christmas family dinners were always turkey with oyster dressing. Cooking brought Luella joy as well as to her family. She worked 18 years at Kathryn Beich Candy Co., and later Nestle USA, in the shipping department. Luella loved her job, which included contacting truckers to make sure her chocolate was delivered on time. She was proud of her work and was a joy to work with. Luella was a member of the Emblem Club and a devoted member of the Faith United Methodist Church in Bloomington. Luella’s family extends their sincere thanks to the staff at McLean County Nursing Home for the care and concern given Luella over the last 2½ years. Condolences and memories of Luella may be left for the family a tkiblerbradyruestman.com.